****August 2023****

I absolutely loved this book from the very start. I loved the characters. I loved the world. I loved the dragons. I loved the romance. I loved everything. 

While I loved it as much as I did, I’m a bit shocked that all of Bookstagram/BookTok is as obsessed with it as they are. Fourth Wing has all of the key cliche elements of an early 2010s YA dystopian/fantasy. I think that era/genre was the peak of literature so I absolutely love it. But I find it hilarious that the internet is losing its mind over what is essentially a flash back to our millennial teenage years. But with dragons. And more explicit romance. 


My commentary from while reading… 

- 3% I’m reading this book despite the fact that I hate unfinished series and this one is just starting out because of the insane amount of hype following it. Normally I might be able to resist the hype, but a friend told me that the book was so good she was considering rereading it again already… so that must mean it is really good. With that said, I’m a bit worried that it has now been built up in my head too much and that it will not live up to such high expectations. 
- I think I am starting off being unintentionally slightly critical… so far my main thoughts are that Violet Sorrengail is one of the most cliche YA fantasy names I’ve ever heard even though this technically isn’t YA. And the fact that there are four quadrants that these young adults are being divided into makes me think of Divergent or really any YA dystopian/fantasy book with factions. That’s not to say that is a bad thing- I love YA dystopian/fantasy, but it just feels a little cliche. 
- 4% why the fuck is she giving up one of her boots for this person she just met. She is insane. 
- 7% I really need to stop mentally comparing this to divergent. I can’t help it. I recently reread the series to see if I would like the ending anymore the second time. The badass “only wears black and likes near death experiences” faction, her weak appearance, and the crush on the older leader boy who is actually from home is making it too easy. 
- Although she is abnormally weak and pathetic. 
- 20% this black dragon is going to chose Violet, obviously. They like intelligence. She is intelligent. 
- 21% her giving her opponent food poisoning feels more like cheating then intelligence.. 
- 22% she is sparring with Xaden and I just want them to make out already 😂 the love triangle aspect of this book is already so strong and literally nothing has happened yet to indicate that Xaden is a potential love interest other than the fact that he is beautiful and they are enemies. Who shall Violet choose! Enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers… OR BOTH?! 
- “Heat rushes up my neck and flames lick my cheeks as he lowers his face so his lips are only inches away from mine. I can make out every speck of gold in his onyx eyes. Every bump and ridge of his scar. Beautiful fucking asshole! My breath catches and my body warms, the traitorous bitch. You are not attracted to toxic men, I remind myself. And yet here I am, getting all attracted. I have been since the first second I saw him, if I feel like being honest.”
- “‘Kidneys are a good fit from this angle, too’. I swallow, refusing to think of other things that are a good fit from this angle”. 
- 28% poisoning her opponents before each fight? Totally cheating. Using her dagger and the obstacle course in a unique way? Not cheating. I think what she did was completely fine. Like a little Mulan climbing the pole moment.
- 30% oh no I was wrong. Small golden dragon. That will be hers. She’s going to get some unique dragon. Maybe that is why the cover is gold. 
- Luca needs to get burnt
- 31% the dragons agreed 😎
- 32% if she names this dragon Goldy, I will be pissed 
- 33% perhaps it will be a healing dragon 
- Maybe she WILL get the black dragon after all! It will like that she stuck up for the little golden one. 
- ORRRR maybe she will get both. There are two dragons on the cover. One gold. One black. Is that possible?!
- “Your hands are bound too. Do you bleed often?”
- Eeek he told her to get on his back! 
- I am just so fucking excited for everyone to see her on this massive black dragon omg I’m dying of excitement!!!!
- 34% “Your making us look bad. Stop it.”
- *FAN GIRLING*
- 35% I WAS JOKING WHEN I SAID AHE COULD GET BOTH DRAGONS OMG 
- The effort to remain seated and not run up and down the hallway at work is a major challenge right now
- 37% Dane is starting to piss me off
- 52% they have indoor plumbing but they haven’t invented a pen yet that works without magic??
- 53% “‘Stop objectifying our wing leader,’ Liam teases. ‘Is that what we’re doing?’ Rhiannon asks not bothering to look away. My mouth waters at the muscled expanse of his back and that sculpted ass. ‘Yeah, I think that’s we’re doing.”
- 54% the fact that she is being effected by Tairn’s current mood in this way is absolutely cracking me up. Especially because I know she is going to stumble into Xaden and he will be impacted in the same way by his dragon. 🤣
- Don’t help her shieldddddd! Help her give into it! 
- 59% JUST FUCKING KILL HIM! Your life and the squad will be better within him in it
- He’s a fucking cheater! He keeps breaking the rules. And now he is channeling power into her! FUCKING KILL HIM! That better be a fatal fucking poison. Otherwise you better slit his fucking throat while he is down
- 62% does this little competition include a section for intelligence? If so, Violet would more than make up for physical weaknesses.
- 63% obviously the answer is some form of intelligence. 
- 64% aghhhh! Don’t get caught!! USE YOUR TIME POWERS! Or I guess this works too 
- They stole a scribe 😂 omg that is hilarious
- 67% I LOVE IT when the dark bad boy who is trying to protect the girl despite everyone thinking he is evil can talk in her head. FUCKING LOVE IT 🥰🥰🥰  this makes me want to reread ACOTAR and I wasn’t even obsessed with that like most of booktok was
- He winked AGHHHHHH
- HE IS NOW OPENLY FLIRTING AND I AM SO FUCKING OBSESSED
- 95% 😭 “Thank you for being my shadow. Thank you for being my friend.”
- 96% they should totally make some sort of dental cap made out of the stuff that can kill these creatures for the dragon’s fangs. Or make some sort of spiked attachment for their tail- they are already using their spiked tails as a weapon why not make it lethal to the monsters?
- 100% HER BROTHER IS ALIVE?!?
- and what was that bit earlier about lost powers. Did she lose her ability to wield lightning??

****January 2025****
I decided to do a reread in anticipation of Onyx Storm. Silly me thought it was going to be a trilogy so I wanted to reread in anticipation of the grand finale. Silly me didn’t realize it would be 5 books. Oh well. I enjoyed it just as much the second time so it was worth it. 

I was planning on doing commentary again but that didn’t last long. I was so focused on reading as fast as I could because I was so excited to get to certain parts that I forgot. In the end I only made 3 comments

- I’m still pissed off that she gave away one of her boots. So stupid. 
- 4% she just described Xaden’s eyes as onyx. Could that have any bearing on the third book’s title? 
- 4% I already want to kill Jack Fucking Barlow


And I will say that I literally danced around the kitchen squealing while listening to the threshing part because I was so excited when both dragons claimed her again.

OH! And this was the first time I read the two chapters from Xaden’s POV. I loved that. Especially the dialogue with his dragon.